Just checked the weather forecast. Yup, four days of rain coming up. For a toddler mom, four days of rain seems more like 20. Time to get out the clay, restock the crayons, and cue up CARS. The alternative is going to one of those pricey play gyms ...
Or ... I could save a few bucks and let them go out and get muddy, messy and wet.
Hmm.
As long as it's not windy, lightening, or thundering, what's the harm, really? I guess it's been a pretty wet spring because several group threads are talking about whether or not to let kids play in the rain or go out just after a storm.
"We live in the Great Northwest," explains Diapermakinmama, mom of two toddlers. " If I kept my kids indoors because it was wet or had just rained, we would never go outside. My rule is if it is a wind storm, then we stay inside. No need to get killed by falling debris. But mud and grass can be cleaned up. My boys' childhood can not."
It can be a magical experience for young ones, for sure. One mom in the Stay at Home Moms group described her son's discovery of his very first worm.
"I say forget pool parties, rain parties are so much more fun!" says mybabygirl3406. "Put on swimsuits and run in the rain. My daughter loves to put on her rubber boots and jump in all the puddles we get down our driveway. I think I enjoy playing in it more than she does. When I was little and it was raining, my mom would lock all us girls out and tell us to go play."
Do you let your kids play outside in the rain? Why or why not? Did your mom let you when you were little?
Comments (13)
my mom let us kids play in the rain. I am however hesitant to take my 17 month old out in the rain. I want to. I probley will now that I read this info.
Only of course if it is safe..duh A good bit of water never hurt anyone. And it has already been proven that being outdoors in bad weather is not associated with sickness.
Look at the Polar Bear Club. lol
I agree with Diapermakinmama, we live near Seattle. It rains so much here, we go play and then dry off and get cleaned up.
I'm excited for my sons first time playing in the rain! He's 21 months old though I'm still devising a plan for baby brother who's 6 months old ( I don't think he'll like the rain as much).
I STILL love playing in the rain every once in awhile!! Brings back childhood memories! :)
I played in the rain as a kid and I will let my son too when he is older. Not if its thundering or high winds, but a little rain or after rain why not. I took my kids to the park today and it was sprinkling. :D
My only concern is the cold. Here in high altitude Colorado it's very cold when it rains. A solution for that would be a rain coat and boots but most of the fun is getting wet and muddy, you can't do that with a bunch of rain gear on.
I will take kids who are 2yrs and older outside to play in the rain. Under 2yrs I worry about them getting too cold. My sister has a red ladybug rain coat, and matching boots and umbrella. It's so cute!
We are just now getting into rainy/hurricane season here in SW Florida, so if I didn't let my girl play in the rain, well, she would never be outside! My husband actually took her out just a little bit ago to play in the rain while I was getting dinner ready. I did it all through my childhood and still love being in the rain (although I don't like it when my glasses get wet and I don't have the cloth to wipe them off!).
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